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Zostera marina meadows in the northwestern Spain: distribution, characteristics and anthropogenic pressures

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Abstract

Zostera marina meadows represent an important marine ecosystem in the North temperate region. They are common in the northwestern Spain, but their distribution and biological traits remain poorly studied. Improving the knowledge of eelgrasses and identifying potential impact sources is necessary to implement conservation programs. Distribution, cover, density, size and presence of flowers in plants of Z. marina along the northwestern Spain were studied. Furthermore, we analyzed shifts in their distribution, the major human-mediated pressures (shellfishing activities) and their protection status. The study area was divided in 14 sectors that were sampled between 2014 and 2017. The northwestern Spain hosts the majority (61.5%, covering 5.8 km2, 48 meadows) of the total extension of Z. marina meadows in the Iberian Peninsula. Our study revealed 13 meadows that were not recorded before. Conversely, the disappearance of seven previously reported meadows was detected. Cover and density of Z. marina was 51.2% ± 15.1 (n = 180) and 181.1 shoots m−2 ± 79.6, respectively. Length and width of leaves were 41.9 cm ± 13.2 (n = 1800) and 6.3 mm ± 0.7, respectively. Although 98% of Z. marina meadows (5.7 km2) were located within marine protected areas, 80% of the meadows (4.7 km2) are subjected to anthropogenic pressures related to shellfishing activities. Z. marina meadows from the northwestern Spain are particularly relevant for the conservation of the species at its southern distribution limit and specific conservation and monitoring plans should be implemented to ensure its persistence. We propose 15 meadows to be considered in future conservation plans that were selected among the ones not included at present in protected areas, and considering their vulnerability and the presence of other species with interest for conservation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Viviana Peña Freire and Alicia García Fernández for assistance in the elaboration of distribution maps and fieldwork, respectively. We thank Antonio García Allut for the provided information. We thank Xunta de Galicia for providing founding through the programme “Axudas para a consolidación e estruturación de unidades de investigación competitivas” (GPC2015/025). PDT acknowledges support by the postdoctoral programmes “Axudas de apoio á etapa de formación posdoutoral” (Xunta de Galicia). We thank the Galician Atlantic Islands maritime-terrestrial National Park their kindness in the management of sampling permits.

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  1. BioCost Research Group, Facultade de Ciencias, University of A Coruña, Campus da Zapateira s/n., 15071, A Coruña, Spain

    Verónica García-Redondo, Ignacio Bárbara & Pilar Díaz-Tapia

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  1. Verónica García-Redondo
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Correspondence to Verónica García-Redondo.

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García-Redondo, V., Bárbara, I. & Díaz-Tapia, P. Zostera marina meadows in the northwestern Spain: distribution, characteristics and anthropogenic pressures. Biodivers Conserv 28, 1743–1757 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01753-4

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